Means for facilitating starting of internal combustion engines



J. V. GIL

Nov, 22, 1938.

MEANS FOR FACILITATING STARTING OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES- FfiIed Feb. 9, 1958 INVENTOR.

JOSfPI/ L 611,.

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ATTO EY Patented Nov. 22, 1938 MEANS FOR FACILITATINGSTARTING?OF 1 INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES" Jos ph v.. Gil, magnum f 1.

1 Application February 9, 1938, Serial No. 189,556 In Great. Britain March91937 i My invention relates to means forfacilitating engines, for example, of the compression ignition type, and the invention has for its object to facilitate the starting of such engines when employing an electric starter for such purpose.

According-to the invention the rise in current which takes place when the operation of the electric starter is initiated or when the electric starter is endeavoring to overcome compression is utilized to actuate means for relieving the compression in the engine.

Thus, in accordance'with the invention, the starting circuit may include means, such as a solenoid responsive to the said rise in current and serving to actuate means for relieving the engine compression.

With this and related objects in view the invention consists in the mechanism and circuits illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating, somewhat diagrammatically, one mode of applying the invention; Figure 2, a sectional View taken along the lines 22 of Figure 1; and Figure 3, a diagrammatic View of the electrical circuits involved.

In carrying the invention into effect in one convenient manner as illustrated in the drawing and as applied, for example, to the starting of a high compression engine I, which may be of the compression ignition type having an electric motor 2 for revolving the engine for starting purposes, there is provided in the circuit by which current is supplied to the electric motor a solenoid 3 which is adapted to be energized by the starting current, which solenoid may be permanently connected in the starting circuit as, for example, between a battery 4 or other source of current supply and the electric motor, which latter may or may not be coupled permanently to the engine. The circuit includes a starting switch l8 which may be manually, electrically or mechanically operated.

When current is supplied to an electric starting motor there is a rise of current due to the resistance to be overcome in turning the engine.

Accordingly, the solenoid 3, when energized by this rise of current, may be employed to actuate means for relieving the compression of the engine and such compression relieving means, when a multi-cylinder engine is employed, may be effective on all or only on a number of the cylinders of the engine.

. mechanism,

In'o'ne convenient construction the compression 1 relieving means comprise the solenoid 3 which may be secured verticall y to a conveniently fi-xed portionof the engine casingand be provided with a movable lower core 8' to which one arm of abell crank lever- 6 is pivotally secured, the outer end or the movable core carrying, if desiredj the piston! of a dash pot Ill situated b'eneatnthe' solenoidthe other arm of the bell crank lever being connected, through the medium of a link 1, with an arm of a bell crank lever l2, the other arm of the bell crank lever being bifurcated at I4 and adapted to receive the valve stem l5 of a valve IS. The stem is enlarged at its lower portion to form a shoulder ll adapted to be engaged by the bell crank lever 12.

The solenoid 3 is provided, in addition to the movable core 8, with a stationary core l3, the axial position of which is adjustable with reference to the movable core 8. The dash pot I ll may be so arranged as to be effective only when the core 8 is moving outof the solenoid, that is to say, in the direction in which the compression relieving means becomes inoperative in order that the engine may experience full compression and start firing.

In operation, when current is supplied to the stationary or slowly moving motor 2 there will be a heavy current in the solenoid 3 and this will have the eiTect of attracting the movable core 8 so as to actuate the bell crank 6 and associated linkl, thus causing the bell crank lever I 2 to engage the shoulder l1, opening the valve IS. The starting motor 2 may thus rotate the engine comparatively freely and the current supplying the motor will fall rapidly as the motor gathers speed; consequently, in due course the solenoid will be ineiTective in holding the core in the attracted position, it being understood that the solenoid is of such strength as to be effective only during the period when a heavy current is flowing through it. The vcore 8 will thus return to its original position closing. the valve I6 (which return may be retarded by the dash pot ID as desired) thereby allowing the starting motor, with the help of the flywheel, to move the engine under full compression and so eiTect starting.

It is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to the details above described, which are given merely by way of example, since it would be possible to employ some other means than a solenoid for the purpose of effecting the desired operation of the compression relieving such means being responsive to changes in the current flowing in the starter, mo-

tor circuit or being indirectly under the control thereof, for example, through the medium of a relay. Further, although the compression relieving mechanism has been illustrated and described as being operative upon the normal valves of the engine, special valves or like means may be provided for achieving the desired purpose.

Other changes in said details may be made without invention and the invention, therefore, comprehends all structures and mechanisms within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, an internal combustion engine, electrical starting means therefor, and.

prising a solenoid included in said starting. circuit responsive to the rise in current which takes place when the operation of the electric starter is initiated or when the electric starter is endeavoring to overcome compression and adapted to actuate means for relieving the compression in the engine.

4. In combination, an internal combustion engine, an electrical circuit comprising electrical starting means for said engine, means comprising a solenoid included in said starting circuit responsive to the rise in current which takes place when the operation of the electric starter is initiated or when the electric starter is endeavoring to overcome compression and adapted to actuate means for relieving the compression in the engine, means for returning said compression relieving means to its original position upon falling off of said current and a dash pot adapted to delay said return movement.

5. In combination, an internal combustion engine, a compression relieving valve in said engine, electrical starting means for said engine, means responsive to a rise in current in said starting means and linkage connecting said compression relieving valve and said current responsive means whereby operation of said current responsive means causes said compression relieving valve to be opened. I

' JOSEPH V. GIL. 

